NUJ Defends Ngelale Over ‘Attack’ By NIPR, Says Journalists Are Eminently Qualified As Spokespersons

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has reacted to the subtle attack by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on the person of Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over claim that he’s not a certified member of NIPR and therefore not qualified for the job.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpennge.com) had reported that the newly elected governing council members of the Institute had stated that the law establishing the NIPR makes it a criminal offence for any individual to practise public relations without the necessary certification and licensing.

Specifically, they said that Ngelale, without the basic knowledge and requisite training on PR, is ordinarily not ‘fit’ to hold the exalted position he now occupies in the Tinubu Presidency.

But in a reaction, NUJ says journalists are eminently qualified to speak for their Principals, and should be allowed to do their work without unnecessary distractions.

The union, in a statement by the Assistant National Secretary, Akorede R. Opevemi, on Monday, September 25, 2023 in Abuja, said the attention of the union has been drawn to various statements on Social Media Platforms and in the news that the Spokesperson of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, is not qualified for the job.

The reports claimed that the Presidential Spokesperson goofed in his recent official statements which to some are due to lack of qualification, despite the fact that Ajuri’s journalism competence and professionalism are not in doubt.

Consequently, the union condemned a situation where journalists who are members of the NUJ are ridiculed for being appointed Spokespersons of State Governments or the Presidency.

NUJ said: “For the sake of emphasis, Ajuri Ngalela is eminently qualified to speak for his Principal and that applies to other Spokespersons at the Federal and State Levels.

“Journalists are eminently qualified to speak for their Principals, and should be allowed to do their work without unnecessary distractions.

“We hasten to add that any law, if any, that is established to curtail or regulate free speech is not justiciable in a democracy. It should be considered as archaic jurisprudence and therefore ignored and discarded.

“It is not tenable in a democracy for any law to seek to determine the qualifications or otherwise of Spokespersons of Political Parties, Government Establishments or Private Companies.”